Math Creative Problem Solving Ability Test for Identification of the Mathematically Gifted

The purpose of this study was to develop math creative problem solving test in order to identify the mathematically gifted on the basis of their math creative problem solving ability and evaluate the goodness of the test in terms of its reliability and validity of measuring creativity in math problem solving on the basis of fluency in producing valid solutions. Ten open math problems were developed requiring math thinking abilities such as intuitive insight, organization of information, inductive and deductive reasoning, generalization and application, and reflective thinking. The 10 open math test items were administered to 2,029 Grade 5 students who were recommended by their teachers as candidates for gifted education programs. Fluency, the number of valid solutions, in each problem was scored by math teachers. Their responses were analyzed by BIGSTEPTS based on Rasch's 1-parameter item-response model. The item analyses revealed that the problems were good in reliability, validity, difficulty, and discrimination power even when creativity was scored with the single criteria of fluency. This also confirmed that the open problems which are less-defined, less-structured and non-entrenched were good in measuring math creativity of the candidates for math gifted education programs. In addition, it discriminated applicants for two different gifted educational institutions and between male and female students as well.